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HIGH COURT OF DELHI
FAO(OS) 44/2024 & C.M.Nos.21144-21145/2024, 21433/2024
MS RAMAN SHARMA ..... Appellant
Through: Mr.Mayank Bhargava
Through: Mr.Akshay Kapoor, Advocate for R-1 & 2.
Date of Decision: 10th April, 2024
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA
JUDGMENT
1. Present appeal has been filed challenging the impugned order dated 30th January, 2024 passed by the learned Single Judge in I.A. 23848/2023 in CS(OS) 20/2018, whereby the application filed by the appellant under Section 151 CPC, 1908 for recall of the order dated 16th March, 2023 passed in the subject suit was dismissed. Vide order dated 16th March, 2023, the delay of three-hundred and twenty (320) days in filing the amended Written Statement by respondent nos.[1] & 2/defendant nos.[1] & 2 was condoned in view of the no-objection given by the learned counsel for the appellantplaintiff. The relevant paragraphs of the order dated 16th March, 2023 are reproduced hereinbelow:- “1. This is an application seeking condonation of delay in filing the amended written statement on behalf of defendant nos.[1] & 2. xxx xxx xxx
4. Learned counsel for the plaintiff/non-applicant does not oppose the present application. As such, the present application is allowed and the delay in filing the amended written statement is condoned.”
2. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that the learned Single Judge erred in not appreciating that the provision of Order VI Rule 18, CPC is mandatory and the amended Written Statement, having been filed after the expiry of the time period granted by the learned Single Judge, could not have been taken on record.
3. He contends that even if the counsel for the appellant had given his ‘no objection’ in the application filed by respondent nos.[1] & 2 for condonation of delay, the learned Single Judge erred in appreciating that no concession on law of limitation can be given by a party and there is no estoppel against law. In support of his submission, he relies upon the judgment of the Supreme Court in State of Rajasthan & Anr. vs. Surendra Mohnot & Ors., (2014) 14 SCC 77, wherein it has been held as under:-
4. He also relies upon the judgment of the Orissa High Court in Sheikh Makbul vs. Union of India & Anr., 1959 SCC OnLine Ori 15, wherein it has been held as under:-
27. The learned counsel relied on a decision of the Calcutta High Court in Bejoy Kumar Bhattacharjee v. (Firm) Satish Chandra Nandi, AIR 1936 Cal 382, where it was held that no doubt the plea of limitation can be urged at any stage having regard to Section 3 of the Limitation Act but when a party does take the appropriate defence but does not put before the Court materials to sustain that defence, it is difficult for the Court sitting in appeal to give effect to the defence contention and the court is justified in rejecting it. In Secretary of State v. Ananda Mohan 34 Cal LT 205: (AIR 1921 Cal 661) which was also relied on by the plaintiff, it was held that the general rule is that points of limitation should not be allowed to be raised for the first time in appeal where they involve a decision upon a question of fact; points of limitation should not be decided against the parties unless attention has been drawn to the question of limitation and an opportunity given them to meet it on evidence; if limitation is urged as bar, the facts on which it is barred must be proved after an issue has been framed.”
5. Having heard learned counsel for the appellant and having perused the paper book, this Court is of the view that since in the present case, learned counsel for the appellant had given his ‘no objection’ to the respondent’s amended Written Statement being taken on record, no appeal against the said order is maintainable, even when, filed through a ‘circuitous method’ of first filing an application for recall and then challenging that order. Section 96(3) of CPC reads as under:-
6. This Court is further of the view that the concession given by learned counsel for the appellant on 16th March, 2023 is not a concession in law. It was a conscious waiver of appellant’s right to oppose the amended Written Statement being taken on record. Consequently, the judgment of the Supreme Court in State of Rajasthan & Anr. vs. Surendra Mohnot & Ors. (supra), has no application to the present case. Further, it is settled law that a decree passed in a suit barred by limitation is not a nullity. (See: Ittyavira Mathai vs. Varkey Varkey and Anr. AIR 1964 SC 907). Accordingly, the judgment of the Orissa High Court in Sheikh Makbul vs. Union of India & Anr. (supra) offers no assistance to the appellant.
7. Consequently, the present appeal being bereft of merit is dismissed along with the applications.
ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA, J APRIL 10, 2024